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INCOME TAXES - Domestic federal statutory tax rates (Details) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) item | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Income Taxes |  |  |  |
Federal and provincial income tax rate (as a percent) | 27.00% | 27.00% | 27.00% |
Amount of interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits | $ 4,398 | $ 3,083 |  |
Changes to the company's liabilities for uncertain tax positions |  |  |  |
Beginning balance | 6,181 | 5,684 | $ 9,490 |
Addition for tax positions related to the current year | 9,806 | 1,376 | 1,376 |
Reductions for tax positions from prior years/Statute of limitations expirations |  | (1,094) | (5,436) |
Foreign exchange effect |  | 215 | 254 |
Foreign exchange effect | (257) |  |  |
Ending balance | $ 15,730 | $ 6,181 | $ 5,684 | $ 9,490
Canada |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |
Federal and provincial income tax rate (as a percent) | 26.50% | 26.50% | 26.50% |
Canada | Canadian Solar Solutions Inc. |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |
Federal and provincial income tax rate (as a percent) | 25.00% | 25.00% | 25.00% |
United States | Canadian Solar (USA) Inc. |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) | 24.82% | 38.61% | 37.69% |
United States | Canadian Solar Energy Acquisition Co. |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) | 25.32% | 38.32% | 43.63% |
Japan | Canadian Solar Japan K.K. |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) | 32.02% | 32.02% | 35.15% |
Germany | Canadian Solar EMEA GmbH |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) | 33.00% | 33.00% | 33.00% |
Vietnam | Canadian Solar Manufacturing Vietnam Co., Ltd |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) |  |  |  | 10.00%
Reduced income tax rate from 2020 to 2028 (as a percent) | 5.00% |  |  |
Thailand | Canadian Solar Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd. |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) |  |  |  | 20.00%
Number of Board of Investment certificates for tax exemption | item |  | 2 |  |
United Kingdom | Canadian Solar UK Projects Ltd. |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) | 19.00% | 19.00% | 20.00% |
Hong Kong | HKSI |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) | 16.50% | 16.50% | 16.50% |
PRC |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |
Period of statute of limitations | 3 years |  |  |
Period of statute of limitations under special circumstances | 5 years |  |  |
Period of statute of limitations for transfer pricing related adjustment | 10 years |  |  |
PRC | CSI Solartronics (Changshu) Co., Ltd |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) | 25.00% | 25.00% | 25.00% |
PRC | CSI Solar Technologies Inc. |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) | 25.00% | 25.00% | 25.00% |
PRC | Canadian Solar Manufacturing (Changshu) Inc. |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) | 15.00% | 15.00% |  |
PRC | Canadian Solar Manufacturing (Luoyang) Inc. |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) | 25.00% | 25.00% | 25.00% |
PRC | SZSP |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) | 25.00% | 25.00% | 25.00% |
PRC | Suzhou Sanysolar Materials Technology Co., Ltd. |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) | 15.00% | 15.00% | 15.00% |
PRC | Suzhou Gaochuangte New Energy Development Co., Ltd. |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) | 15.00% | 15.00% | 15.00% |
PRC | Changshu Tlian Co., Ltd. |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) | 15.00% | 15.00% |  |

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